Materials

Step 1 – Prepare a Mounting Bracket

The mounting bracket is how the beauty dish attached to the strobe. It provides support for the dish to rest on and take the load away from the strobe’s head.

The bracket is made with the aluminum flat bar. Use the template below (pdf, large jpg) to cut holes and bend the bar into the shape.

It is easiest if you follow the a certain order:

Mark the holes and the bends with a sharpie

Drill the holes

Make the bends as marked in step (1). After making each of the bends, place the bar on the template and make sure it fits.

Step 2 – Preparing The Strobehole

Using a dremel, cut a 2×3 inch hole in the back of the lamp. It will pretty much nuke it as an IKEA lamp, but will create a a hole just big enough for most strobes.

Trim out the hole with some rubber or gaffers tape to keep from scratching my flashes.

Step 3 – Add the Mulberry Blank Cover

The Home Depot Mulberry Blank Cover Plate is held in place with two 4 inch 1/4-20 bolts. Screw holes on the plate were re-tapped wider to accept the 1/4-20 bolts. If you don’t own a tap, you can drill a larger hole and use bolts to lock it in place. There is a nut on the back side tightened to keep the bolt from backing out.

The back side of the plate can be sprayed silver for better reflection

Step 4 – Testing

Mount your strobe and make sure everything fits well, this is your final chance to make adjustments before doing the paint job

Step 5 – Paint Job

Paint the dish with matte black (or sharp metallic green

Sample Image

About The Author

Dave Casius is a photographer and a DIYer based in the US, you can watch his Flickr stream here.

how did it go? i am going to use a ceramic side plate for my diffuser… and stick an elinchrom mount on the back instead of the bracket.

Mike.letour

This is a nice instructional, and I plan to use it as a jumping off point for my own beauty dish. the only thing I think I will change is to move the lightstand hole closer to the reflector, to balance it a bit better.

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Allen Mowery is a commercial and lifestyle photographer, pseudo-philosopher, and wannabe documentarian killing time amidst the rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania. When not shooting client work or chasing overgrown wildlife from his yard, he loves to capture the stories of the people and culture around him. You can check out his work on his website or follow along on Facebook, Twitter (@allenmowery), and 500px.

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